Lita Cabellut, member of the jury of Figurativas 2019

9 January 2019

Upcoming exhibition at MEAM

ARC is pleased to present the winners and finalists of the 13th International ARC Salon Competition. This year we had over 3,750 entries from 69 countries. The finalists represent approximately 28% of entries. ARC has acquired 11 new works for the ARC collection, valued at over $118,000. Our Best in Show went to Ming Yu, for his painting of In Bvlag, where Yu emphasizes light as a central focus. This masterful work rivals any portrait from current or prior centuries. The Bouguereau Award went to our runner up for Best in Show, Woman in the Forest, by Katsu Nakajima, which is set in the deep, vast and magical forest of Jukai, Japan. In addition to these awards, a Purchase Award given out by the MEAM Museum in Barcelona Spain, went to Casey Childs for his painting of Sliver.

Art Renewal Center will be holding the official award ceremony for the winners of the 13th ARC Salon on the eve of the opening at the MEAM, the final 13th ARC Salon exhibition venue, after being exhibited around from the Salmagundi Club, New York City, to Sotheby's, Los Angeles.

ARC will be accepting entries to the next, 14th International ARC Salon Competition from December 1st, 2018—March 15th, 2019.

3 October 2018

Japan and Spain, united thbaks to Figurative Art

It was only chance that there were seven months separating the inauguration of two Contemporary Painting Museums that, at two opposite ends of the world, have made Figuration its banner. They did not know each other, they knew nothing of their existence from each other and very little of the artists in each of them represented. They were, in conclusion, two very distant worlds that have come to be in an identical sensitivity to the art of our day.

I suppose that the same surprise that I had when receiving the visit of Hiroko Hoki in Barcelona to propose collaboration and friendship, was the one Masao Hoki would have at the time to learn of the existence of a sister museum in distant Europe, moved by similar ones criteria of management and aesthetics.

For me, it has been exciting to be able to collaborate with a family that is capable of creating an institution like the Hoki. That can conceive such a Museum and entrust to a prestigious architectural firm the construction of a building specially designed to house its collections and that has earned the Japanese Architecture Award. That gives body to a collection of works of art of such magnitude and that present them with such dignity. And finally, it is an honor that we are in charge of presenting, for the first time in Europe, the work of a whole generation of artists that will surprise not a few visitors from all over the world.

I sincerely believe that this exhibition of current Japanese artists will arouse the admiration of my European fellow citizens and deserve more than interesting comments outside our borders. The official world of art can not continue to ignore the strength, the category and the decision with which Figuration is invading and all corners of the contemporary. The return to respect for tradition as the basis of the creative act to make the leap to the new expressiveness of the 21st century is already an indisputable fact. And the quality of the work that is being presented all over the world is already of an absolutely irresistible power.

I am sure that this first step of collaboration between our two Museums will continue in many fruitful acts of collaboration between both institutions.

Inaugurated exhibition of Japanese painters from the Hoki museum collection in Japan

19 September 2018

Private reception of the Consul of Japan

On the occasion of the exhibition of works of the Museum of Hoki in the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) from September 20 to December 2, 2018, on September 19 was held at the official residence a reception with assistance of the organizers and artists involved. Likewise, the following day, Consul General Naohito Watanabe attended the inauguration ceremony held at the MEAM, where he offered a parliament with the director Mr. Infiesta, the public relations manager of the Hoki Museum Mr. Yasuda and the representative of the artists Mr. Noda. The Consul General highlighted the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of relations between Japan and Spain, of which the present exhibition is a commemorative event, and expressed his hope that it contributes to a strengthening of the artistic exchange between both countries. The inauguration event had more than 500 attendees and was a success.

Reception of the Artists form the Hoki Museum Collection

7 August 2018

Contemporary Japenese Realism

The European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM), an entity that promotes and disseminates figurative art of the 20th and 21st centuries, will present for the first time in Europe the work of the most prestigious contemporary Japanese artists, in the field of figuration and realism. From September 21, will host the exhibition ’Contemporary Japanese Realism’, which brings together the 60 most outstanding works of the permanent fund of the Hoki Museum in Tokyo, the first museum in Japan dedicated exclusively to the current realistic painting.

Female figures endowed with the sensibility and exquisiteness of Japanese art or carefully worked landscapes are some of the main reasons that will form the exhibition. ’Contemporary Japanese Realism’ will feature the participation of 14 Japanese painters of great prestige, among which the pioneer Hiroshi Noda (1936) or Masayuki Hara (1956).

As a correspondence, starting in 2019, the MEAM will organize a large collective exhibition with more than 50 current figurative Spanish artists in the Hoki Museum and other points of reference in Japan. Later, he will present an anthological sample of the Hungarian painter Istvan Sandorfi.

1 July 2018

ModPortrait 2017

The MEAM (Museu Europeu d’Art Modern) exposes from June 22 to July 29, 2018 the works selected in the V Contest ModPortrait of figurative painting in portrait mode and showing that the bar of this international contest is every time higher. Prior to his visit to Barcelona, his promoter, José Enrique González, director of the Galería ArteLibre, will show next June 3 at the Pablo Serrano Museum the result of his efforts, at an evening in which the first prize will be presented. Fifth edition. Conor Walton was the winner for an oil portrait under the title "The key". Six honorable mentions will also be given to painters whose works stand out among all the participants. Among them we can mention the works of Marcos Rey, Carmen Mansilla or Iván Franco.

1 May 2018

Luisa Granero, the strenght of a woman

Worthy culmination of the long series of activities carried out in the MEAM, since the opening of the exhibition on Mujeres Artistas Hoy, started on March 8, is this anthological exhibition of the work of the sculptor Luisa Granero.

To organize this exhibition, the son of Luisa Granero has made available to the MEAM the entire legacy of Luisa Granero: Hundreds of sculptures, oil paintings, notes, personal notes, etc., etc. The result is the most complete anthological of his work, with many sculptures made in terracotta, plaster, bronze and marble, with many different oils and paintings, and with works by many well-known artists (Mallol Suazo, Ernest Santasusagna, Lluís Muntaner, Jaume Otero , Martí Llauradó, etc.) in which she herself is the model.

An authentic example of how a woman, made to herself, and with the sole weapon of her will, can achieve all the goals that have been proposed in life.

9 April 2018

Seguranyes Legacy

The sculptor Joan Seguranyes i Redorta was born in Vic in 1932, son of the sculptor Jaume Seguranyes i Solá. He studied at the Municipal School of Vic and at the Escola d’Arts i Oficis of Barcelona (Llotja), helping in the workshop of Josep Clarà. He has participated in several collective exhibitions and, since 1970, in individual exhibitions in a multitude of Catalan and Spanish locations. Gold Medal of Sculpture of the City Council of Vic and Silver Medal of the I International Exhibition of Aix-en-Provence.

The sculptor has donated the "Legacy Seguranyes" to the Fundació de les Arts i els Artistes, a set consisting of 25 sculptures of different materials (terracotta, plaster and bronze) and numerous drawings. All of them will become part of the Foundation’s funds. To make them known to the general public, the MEAM will organize an exhibition that will open on April 12, 2018 on the second floor of the Museum.

8 March 2018

Women artists today

On Thursday, March 8, coinciding with the celebration of International Women’s Day, the MEAM presents an exhibition of Spanish artists, painters and sculptors, who show the best that is being done today in the field of contemporary figuration. The MEAM has made a selection, among the remarkable current production, to present the latest works that women have made and are doing in the plastic arts.

21 November 2017

The MEAM extends the duration of the exhibition Figurativas 2017

Due to the success of visits to the exhibition in Barcelona, the European Museum of Modern Art has decided to keep open the 9th international figurative art exhibition that exposes to the public the awarded works of the painting and sculpture contest organized by the Foundation of the Arts and Artists

9 November 2017

The MEAM presents the first great anthology of the Polish sculptor Grzegorg Gwiazda, the great promise of contemporary European sculpture.

On November 17, 1917, Auguste Rodin died at his home in Meudon, France. The extensive work he did throughout his life had shown an incredible ability to travel the long distance that separated the prolific academicism of the mid-nineteenth century from the brutal expressiveness of the twentieth century.

In the same month of the centenary of the death of the French master, the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) exposes the work of another young artist who aspires to find his own language to make a leap as ambitious as that of the visionary Rodin. In the same way as the French genius, his work is not a static work, but is in constant transformation, surprising itself with the most original ideas.

The MEAM presents from November 30 the exhibition ’The Rodin of the XXI Century’, in reference to the Polish artist Gregorz Gwiazda (Poland, 1984), considered one of the most advanced disciples of the great French sculptor of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Humanity, strength, old age, humor and decadence are some of the features that are present in this show. José Manuel Infiesta, director of the MEAM, explains that "in every detail of Gwiazda’s work there is a contained force, an expressivity so brutal that it drags us into the depths of ourselves".

Gwiazda studied at the Fine Arts schools of Poznan and Warsaw, and later at the Accademia di Belle Art di Brera in Milan, Italy. His works have been shown in individual exhibitions in several Polish cities, such as Lidzbark, Warminski, Warsaw, Poznan, Mosina or Bydgoszcz, among others, and in group exhibitions in Poland, Madrid and Barcelona.

31 October 2017

Lied Jams

In a return to the origins of the Lied, Jams de Lied are organized periodically, sessions that take place in different areas of the city and where the initial spirit of this genre is claimed, more spontaneous and informal, but above all, closer .

During these Jams, the intention is to recover this community and creation environment, where artists meet in "incognito duets", a kind of blind date to make music spontaneously between singers and pianists. Giving surprising results, as happens with other musical genres, in a space open to everyone, both artists and music lovers.

This Jam de Lied, which will take place in the Palau Gomis of the MEAM as an incomparable setting, is special since we will celebrate that it is the official fixed headquarters of the JAMS DE LIED, with the support of the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation and the LIFE Victoria Festival .

13 October 2017

Grzegorz Gwiazda · Upcoming exhibition

To celebrate the centenary of the death of the best European sculptor of the 20th century, Auguste Rodin, in November 1917, MEAM will present, from December 1st, 2017, the first great anthological exhibition of the work of the Polish sculptor Grzegorz Gwiazda, that we consider with category and personality sufficient to be able to be considered like "the Rodin of the 21st century".

10 October 2017

Exhibition of the Opera House of Barcelona

On the occasion of the performances of Un ballo in maschera, the Liceu and the Museu Europea d’Art Modern de Barcelona - MEAM present the exhibition Who hides behind the mask, a selection of contemporary paintings that reflect on the "faces" that we we put it every day, relating it to key aspects of Verdi’s opera plot as envy, passion, adultery, betrayal ...

3 October 2017

PRESS: Dog days, living together.

The European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) presents the ’Dog Days’, the first event in Spain aimed exclusively at dogs and their owners, which will take place on the weekend of 7 and 8 October. Organized by Animal Movement (www.animalmovement.org), a platform that defends and promotes the rights of animals, this act has as main objective to claim full integration into society of animals that live with us, sharing spaces, sensations and times . This project follows the star other events that have taken place previously in the United States (New York, 2013) and Germany (Berlin, 2016).
Next Friday, October 6th at 11:00 am Animal Movement leader Oscar Maestros and MEAM director José Manuel Infiesta will present the ’Dog Days’ project to the media. The press conference will also have the presence of different people who will attend the Museum accompanied by their dogs.

25 September 2017

ARC Salon & Figurativas 2017 are now open to the general public

The MEAM and Art Renewal Center prepare the largest exhibition of current figurative art. Two international competitions, ARC Salon and Figurative 2017, one organized in North America by Art Renewal Center and the other in Europe held by the Foundation of the Art and Artists, to bring to the public Barcelona all the latest work of the best artists from all over the world.

7 September 2017

Barcelona houses the Figurativas 2017 edition

From September 22, the MEAM (European Museum of Modern Art) will be able to see the largest exhibition of painting and sculpture by living artists from all over the world. This show represents the most current art of our time and it wants to teach the public that Figurative Art is more effective than ever. In parallel to this exhibition, the MEAM will also present the awarded works in the North American ARC Salon competition, organized by Art Renewal Center

The inauguration is scheduled for Friday 22 at 8 pm in the Calle de la Barra de Ferro, 5 - MEAM

28 July 2017

Awarded artworks

4 July 2017

Figurativas 2017

The results of the contest of Figurative can be seen in a large exhibition that opens at the MEAM on September 22nd, next to the works awarded at the North American Art Renewal Center competition.

With this, the MEAM and Art Renewal Center prepare the largest exhibition of current figurative art. Two international competitions, ARC Salon and Figurative 2017, one organized in North America and the other in Europe, unite to bring to the public Barcelona all the latest work of the best artists from all over the world.